How to Install Quarry Tile

When you need flooring that stands up to a little abuse and looks good doing so, it's hard to go wrong with quarry tile. Quarry tile is made of red clay, usually in 12-inch squares, and is thicker and heavier than ceramic tile. Often called Mexican or Spanish tile, it is common in California where its rich tones and rustic style complement Spanish- and Mexican-influenced architecture and other casual spaces. Install quarry tile in entryways, kitchens or outdoor spaces, anywhere a tough, durable surface is needed. While quarry tile is durable, its unglazed surface is porous and susceptible to stains and moisture, so be sure to seal it after installation.

1

Check the floor where quarry tile will be installed with a 4-foot level and correct any uneven spots, with self-leveling cement on a concrete floor or by adding cement backerboard on a wooden subfloor. Install backerboard to the wood subfloor with corrosion-resistant nails or screws; foillow directions of the backerboard manufacturer and fasten with a hammer or screw gun.

2

Measure corner to corner with a tape measure and mark the center of the floor where those diagonals cross. Snap chalk lines across that center as reference points, both the length and width of the floor area. Use a carpenter's square to make sure the intersections are square.

3

Lay out tiles along the guidelines to determine a pattern, using as many full tiles as possible. Adjust tiles from the centering lines, if necessary, to avoid any thin tiles at the edges. Mark any revisions with another chalk line, keeping the lines straight and corners square.

4

Dampen the concrete or cement backerboard with water; use a wallpaper brush to spread water but don't create puddles, covering one area at a time. Mix mortar in a large container; follow directions on the mortar package. Use a mortar recommended by the tile supplier. Mix it thin enough to spread easily but thick enough to stand alone.

5

Spread mortar over an area with the notched side of a flat mason's trowel, starting in the center and working toward a corner. Cover an area of about nine tiles at a time. Set the first tile in place at the center intersection and work toward the walls, pushing the tiles firmly into the mortar. Wiggle each tile a bit to set if securely.

6

Put plastic tile spacers at corners between tiles to create a grout line; these can be any size, but most quarry tiles use about 3/8-inch spaces. Put a level across the tiles after the first nine are laid and use a rubber mallet to tap down or adjust high or low spots. Work to walls and cut tiles to fit at edges with a masonry saw or by scoring a tile with the trowel and snapping it against a straight edge. Use a saw for notches or other complex cuts.

7

Cover the floor, working in nine-tile squares and toward an exit door so you don't have to talk on new tile. Continue to level tiles, both within sections and across the entire floor. Lay a long 2-by-4-inch board across the area and set a level on it to check the whole floor.

8

Let mortar set for 24 hours and remove the tile spacers. Grout the spaces between tiles with a rubber grout float. Start at one corner and spread grout in a figure 8 shape with the float at about a 60-degree angle to fill all the gaps completely. Wipe excess grout off the tile surface with a damp sponge after all joints are filled. Allow the grout to dry and wipe off any dried excess with a soft dry cloth.

9

Apply sealant with a paint roller or similar applicator -- see manufacturer's instructions -- making sure to cover the entire surface; it may take more than one application to completely seal the tile. Let the sealant dry between coats. Test it if additional coats are needed by dripping water in an inconspicuous area; if it puddles on the surface, the tile is sealed.

About the Author

Bob Haring has been a news writer and editor for more than 50 years, mostly with the Associated Press and then as executive editor of the Tulsa, Okla. "World." Since retiring he has written freelance stories and a weekly computer security column. Haring holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri.